Rapper 50 Cent’s bankruptcy filing last week was all the rave after he was made liable to pay for damages caused to a young woman via a home video sex-tape that premiered publicly on the rapper’s website for all to see.
In an effort to humiliate his then rap rival: Rick Ross (with whom the woman has a child), although she was a mere casualty of the rapper’s war, the after-effects overshadowed her personal life.
As a result, a lawsuit was filed on 50 Cent which recently awarded the woman $5 million dollars compensatory damages + the option to sue for punitive damages (award amount to be determined by 50 Cent’s income which right now is hanging in the balance of his recent bankruptcy).
Additionally, 50 Cent filed a motion to declare the case by which he had to pay the $5 million dollars a mistrial-reasoning that jurors may very well have been swayed by all the media attention the case has gotten.
Welp.
Reports are surfacing that the judge just denied that request of 50’s lawyers citing the media attention could very well be traced back to his client: defendant 50 Cent, himself.
At this point, all of this is so annoying because the fact of the matter still remains: 50 Cent took it upon himself to get post a video of his rival’s baby’s mother (although not to hurt her directly) but to embarrass Rick Ross-all for Internet minion’s entertainment.
It amazes me that he feels he should not be made liable for doing such a thing and even moreso, how no one’s even talking about that!
Granted, there’s no promise that making a sex tape wouldn’t have circulated in her own world and personal life-depending on who else was in possession of if, but the fact of the matter is: 50 Cent is a public person with a fan base and platform in by which the tape was used for public view—which magnified the situation altogether!
He should indeed be made liable (for the compensatory damages).
However, with regard to the punitive end of the suit-I can agree with his filing bankruptcy in order reorganize assets and liabilities (to protect what you’ve worked for).
But by contrast (to my agreeing with his being made liable for the $5 million compensatory), I do not think punitive damages (which are determined by his assets) should be an option—unless she can prove her assets or monies made in her lifetime…proving she has even ever made the amount she was awarded ($5 million dollars). A mere social security annual printout could give that information.
Yes. My first question would be: “Has she ever in her total lifetime made over the $5 million she was awarded? Show me her assets over that then come to me for punitive damages-asking me for a tally of my assets to determine the percentage of that I should award on top of the already $5 million rewarded). If she hasn’t made over $5 million in her lifetime as yet. Back up off me.”
BUT…the law doesn’t work like that.
The only way to fully punish someone like 50 (with assets), is to hit him with a punitive lawsuit because $5 million dollars may very well be no skin off the chin of somebody like him, and who knows? The next time he exploits a woman or anyone to this extent may make him well over the price he has to pay in damages for being sued.
It is for that reason only that (perhaps) yes, he should be made liable for punitive damages.
Rich, modest, or tax-paying poor; the best way in this country to teach most lessons not involving murder is sanctioning as: murder is to loss of life as sanctionings are to loss of quality of life.
50 Cent compromised her quality of life and was sanctioned [in amounts that will certainly put her in a position for a better quality of life well over the one she had even before the tape circulated]…
As well, considering the over $100 million dollars 50 Cent is supposed to be worth, $5 million of that isn’t exactly going to compromise his quality of life but sanctioning his @$$ with punitive damages lawsuit will indeed. That is the only punishment that will make him think twice again about pressing ‘play’ to play with minions for 15 minutes of laughs that meant nothing to Rick Ross, 50 Cent, or the minions watching and laughing. However it certainly meant lots for the woman involved.
Nothing makes you think twice than to be hit with your freedom or in the pocket.
